NATCHEZ — The State Charter School Authorizer Board will vote today on allowing three groups to open charter schools in the state, including one in Natchez.

The board will meet at 10 a.m. today in Jackson and address each group individually on its proposed school before making a ruling. The board is authorized to approve 15 charter schools each year.

In Natchez, the Phoenix Project Community Development Foundation wants to open the Phoenix Early College Charter School, serving grades 9 through 12.

The group is seeking to open an early college high school model, which is similar to a high school focused on college preparation, that would have open enrollment for students in ninth through 12th grades, with a plan of opening to 75, ninth grade students in 2015.

Charter schools are publicly funded, independently operated public schools that do not charge tuition or fees, are open to all students who wish to attend and cannot discriminate when making enrollment decisions.